Controversy over Marshalls lawyer fees

An attorney in the Marshall Islands has objected to being ordered to provide legal counsel to a plaintiff in a land case, saying it puts him in a position of having to provide an essentially free service that he cannot afford.

The objection to a High Court order by attorney James McCaffrey has resulted in Chief Justice Carl Ingram vacating the earlier order and referring the controversy to the Supreme Court for review.

While the court provides up to 5,000 US dollars compensation for lawyers handling cases for clients who cannot afford to pay, Mr McCaffrey had argued he would be providing countless hours of legal service without compensation.